Readers rip Probation Nation column

Reaction was harsh to Saturday’s column about smoke machines and sirens causing a secondary NCAA violation for the Washington football program, creating hope for the return of Probation Nation.

Some excerpts from my in-box, with a few replies in parentheses…

From an especially incensed ex-reader: “Up to this point, I had actually felt somewhat sorry for you in regards to your soon-to-be-unemployed status. Howaver, after reading your most recent article, I couldn’t be happier that the P-I is going away because it means you’re going away too. I am, in fact, relishing the idea of the local newspaper unpolluted by your sorry excuse for writing.

“Your Husky envy knows no bounds. Maybe you have some anger because you did not gain admission to the UW (to the contrary, I was accepted); maybe you got your butt kicked by a kid in a purple shirt (it’s possible); maybe you just need to quit being a petulant overaged teenager and grow up.

“To rejoice in the possible probation of any school, be it UW or USC, is simply immature and beneath the dignity of any reasonable person. Obviously nothing is beneath you.

“The thought of you looking for a job, filling out applications, begging for some rag paper to give you the chance you do not deserve, brings a smile to my face (so I take it the column didn’t?).”

From an anonymous reader: “Should the PI actually go under, YOU will NOT BE MISSED! You are at best, a mediocre hack who, I suspect, was hired under the guise of an affirmative action program that forces papers to hire so-called journalism students from Washington State.

“What is more comical is that there are a number of homeless on the streets near Pioneer Square who could do your job. And in all liklihood, do it better.

“Good bye, good riddance.”

From Jerry: “My dad worked for the P-I for 39 years and would be rolling in his grave knowing the paper was going under. But with people like you and your Rush Limbaugh thoughts, it actually makes me glad that you will be out of work.”

From another miffed reader: “People like you are the reason the P-I is going under…It’s bad enough that your entire paper is run by left-wing wackos, but now we have people like you running the Husky beat.

“Good luck at the AM-PM in Pullman. Nobody deserves it more.”

And there was an entertaining email from Wazzu alum Jess. He and his buddies had a saying they lived by in their days as students. Jess still gets a chuckle out of it, and so did I.